Mitos scores PNoy over Arroyo 'blame game'

ABS-CBN News

MANILA, Philippines – Zambales Rep. Mitos Magsaysay scored what she calls Malacañang’s finger-pointing at the Arroyo administration over the worsening self-rated poverty in the country based on the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.

“As soon as the SWS survey came out showing that self-rated poverty has worsened by a full 10 percentage points, this administration--right on schedule--again pointed its finger at former President Arroyo, its favorite scapegoat for the country's ills even after two years of the Aquino leadership,” Magsaysay said in a statement released on Saturday.

Magsaysay said the Aquino administration has recycled allegations against former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to cover up for its own shortcomings.

She added that no less than the Asian Development Bank (ADB) had cited the Arroyo administration FOR having brought the country from “being laggard among ASEAN's major economies to one of its top performers.”

“But after two years under this administration, growth is down, and poverty, hunger, unemployment and prices are up, and all that he can do is vilify the past to cover up for his failings,” said Magsaysay.

During his speech before ADB’s board of governors on Friday, President Benigno Aquino III cited the contrast between what he called the corrupt previous administration and the changes being instituted under his leadership. -- ANC